If you have sent an InMail message on LinkedIn and it shows as “Pending”, it means the recipient has not yet read or responded to your message. There are a few common reasons why an InMail may be stuck in a “Pending” state:
Recipient Has Not Logged In
The most common reason an InMail is pending is that the recipient simply has not logged into their LinkedIn account recently. Unlike email which is pushed to the recipient’s inbox, InMail requires the recipient to actively log into LinkedIn and check their messages for your note to be marked as read.
If the recipient does not use LinkedIn very often or has been away from work on vacation, a pending InMail could mean they have not had a chance to see it yet. Be patient and give them some time to log in and respond.
Recipient’s Inbox is Full
LinkedIn InMail inboxes have limits – free accounts can only hold 10 messages, while premium accounts allow up to 30. If the recipient has a full inbox and has not cleared it out, your message may be stuck in pending state outside their inbox.
You can check if this is the case by looking at the recipient’s profile. If it shows their InMail is full or not accepting messages, your pending message is waiting for space to free up.
Recipient Has Not Accepted Connection Request
To send an InMail, you need to be connected to the recipient on LinkedIn. However, Pending means your connection request has not been accepted yet. The InMail will remain pending until they confirm connecting with you.
Double check your connections and see if the request is still outstanding. You may need to individually message them to accept the request before your InMail can be delivered.
Recipient’s Settings are Blocking You
LinkedIn members can adjust their account settings to control who can send them InMail. They may have their account set to only allow messages from people in their network or other criteria.
If the recipient has their settings blocking InMail from those they are not directly connected to, your message will remain pending until they add you to their connections.
LinkedIn Flagged Your Message
LinkedIn scans all InMail for any policy violations or prohibited content. If their automated filters detect an issue, they may flag your message and hold it in pending state.
Review LinkedIn’s guidelines to make sure your message does not contain banned words, inappropriate content or spam. You may need to re-write and re-send it to get it past their filters.
How Long Does InMail Stay Pending?
There is no set time limit for how long an InMail can remain in pending status before expiring. LinkedIn will continue attempting to deliver the message until the recipient deletes it, establishes a connection or for up to one year.
If your pending InMail is stuck for over a month with no response, it may be time to try other methods to reach out to the recipient instead of relying solely on InMail.
Following Up on a Pending InMail
If your InMail has been stuck in pending state for some time, there are a few options to potentially trigger a response:
- Send a follow up InMail – remind them of your initial message
- Connect via LinkedIn’s messenger – start a new conversation thread
- Invite them to connect on LinkedIn – they may then accept and read your InMail
- Find and message their email address – outreach outside of LinkedIn
- Ask for an introduction through a mutual connection
- Interact by liking/commenting on their posts and content
However, avoid pestering the recipient – only follow up periodically so you do not come across as a spammer. And respect if they do not wish to connect or respond.
Deleting a Pending LinkedIn InMail
If your InMail has remained unanswered in pending state for some time, you can delete it from your outbox if you no longer need that recipient to see it.
On LinkedIn’s website, go to your Messaging section. Click the InMail message you want to remove. In the upper right corner select “Discard” to permanently delete the InMail.
On mobile, go to your inbox, tap and hold the pending message, then choose “Discard” to delete it.
Once discarded, the InMail is removed and the recipient will no longer be able to view it. But use caution before deleting, as the recipient will not be notified and you won’t be able to easily resend it.
Why InMail Delivery Fails
In some cases, instead of a pending status, your InMail may completely fail to be delivered. This usually occurs because:
- The recipient closed their LinkedIn account
- You entered an incorrect email address for the recipient
- The recipient specifically blocked you from sending InMail
A failed InMail will be marked with an exclamation icon in your outbox. Hover over the failed message and LinkedIn will specify the reason for the failure so you can resolve it.
Limits on Sending InMails
LinkedIn limits the number of InMails any user can send in a given period to prevent abuse. Free accounts are restricted to sending only 5 to 15 InMails per month.
Premium paid account levels like Sales Navigator have higher InMail limits, typically around 25-50 per month. Make sure you track your monthly allowance and use each message wisely.
If you go over your limit, additional InMails will be blocked until your monthly sending limit resets. Upgrade to a premium account if you need to be able to send higher volumes.
Why Use LinkedIn InMail?
Compared to regular messaging or email, LinkedIn’s InMail system has some advantages:
- Higher open and response rates than cold email outreach
- Appears prominently in the LinkedIn inbox
- Allows you to message people you are not connected to
- Lets you know if the message was read or deleted
InMail can be a powerful way to start relationships, contact candidates, and cut through the noise – as long as it is used professionally and courteously. Follow up promptly when your message goes to pending.